Pagina 1-28.qxd - Cátedra de Estudos Sefarditas "Alberto Benveniste"

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Pag 33-62:Pagina 1-28.qxd 10-12-2009 01:13 Page 44 FRançOIS SOyeR doubt that what Manuel was most fearful of was a Spanish attempt to put pressure on him to join the Holy league against France. It is difficult to establish exactly when Manuel was first approached by representatives of Isabel and Fernando with an invitation to join the Holy league as our two main sources provide contradictory sta - tements. the Portuguese Damião de góis states that Manuel was invited to join the Holy league whilst he was staying in estremoz, in early 1497. 21 In contrast to this, the Spaniard zurita places the re - quest firmly in 1496 and as having been made at the same time as the marriage negotiations were taking place. 22 On balance, it appears far more plausible that the invitation was made in 1497 rather than in 1496. If Isabel and Fernando had thought that the Portuguese monarch was in no position to refuse to join the Holy league, they were to be sorely disappointed as Manuel stood his ground firmly: (…) concerning these alliances, the King politely declined [to join], promising, however, that if the King of France invaded the kingdom of Castile he would come to its aid despite the peace and friendship he had with the monarch of France. 23 the discontent that Manuel’s refusal provoked at the Spanish court is reflected by zurita, who indignantly records that the Portuguese King had preferred to uphold his “friendship” with the French King “even though he had entered into the possession of that realm [of Portugal] by the favour, and with the help, of the King [of aragón] and the Queen [of Castile].” 24 Manuel’s refusal to 21 DaMIãO De góIS, Crónica do Felicíssimo Rei D. Manuel (Coimbra, 1949), chapter 19, 40. 22 J. zURIta, Historia del Rey Don Hernando el Catholico. De las Empresas, y Ligas de Italia (zaragoza, 1610), fol. 88v. 23 “... das quaes alianças se elrei excusou, prometendo com tudo q ~ se elrei da França lhes viesse fazer guerra de ~ tro dos regnos de Castella, que em tal caso ho ajudaria, sem embargo da paz, & amizade que entam com ho dicto rei de França tinha...” Damião de góis, Crónica do Felicíssimo Rei D. Manuel (Coimbra, 1949), Vol. 1, chapter 19, 40. 24 “…aunque avia entrado en la posesión de aquel Reyno con el favour, y amparo del Rey, y de la 44
Pag 33-62:Pagina 1-28.qxd 10-12-2009 01:13 Page 45 KIng ManUel I anD tHe exPUlSIOn OF tHe CaStIlIan ConvERSoS anD MUSlIMS... in tervene in wars between different european powers was to become a feature policy of his reign. throughout his reign, Manuel observed a position of strict neutrality in european affairs. Manuel knew only too well that he had nothing to gain – and much to lose – by actively participating in european wars. a war with France would only had diverted precious material and financial resources away from his projects to expand Portuguese rule in north africa and open a sea route to India. the King of Portugal had no territorial claims to defend against France either in Italy or indeed any other part of europe beyond the Pyrenees. Furthermore, apart from occasional acts of piracy committed by French ships, relations be - tween the Crowns of France and Portugal were generally amicable. 25 the outraged reply that Manuel sent to the Spanish court, immediately after receiving the princess’ demands, is unfortunately no longer extant. We are nonetheless able to gain an insight into its content from a surviving letter that Isabel and Fernando wrote to their ambassador in Portugal, álvaro de Silva, on 21 June 1497, in which they gave him clear instructions relating to what he was to say on their behalf to the Portuguese King to appease his anger: as [King Manuel] already knows, at the time when the marriage negotiations were taking place [in Burgos], the Princess imposed the precondition that he was to expel all the heretics from his realms and lordships before she entered them. [the Princess] asked us [to make this condition] when the engagement was agreed and did not even want to agree to [the engagement] until [the heretics] had left [Portugal]. nonetheless, we all told her then that she did not need to worry as the heretics would be expelled before her entry into Portugal. two or three days after this, when [King Manuel] himself could not yet have known of the engagement, or the precondition set by the Reyna.” J. zURIta, Historia del Rey Don Hernando el Catholico. De las Empresas, y Ligas de Italia (zaragoza, 1610), fol. 88v. 25 the Portuguese policy of adopting strict neutrality in european wars that Manuel I resolutely clung to was later also adopted by his son João III. DaMIãO De góIS, Crónica do Felicíssimo Rei D. Manuel (Coimbra, 1949), Vol. 3, chapter 23, 100; I. MenDeS DRUMOnD BRaga, Um espaço, duas monarquias (lisbon, 2001), 143-173. 45
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